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Friday, December 5, 2008

Inferiority Complex

Wandering off on a rabbit trail is never a good idea.

I noticed that a blog I occasionally read had a new post and headed over to check it out today. That led me to another site and then to another and suddenly I found myself reading the bio of a woman who is scheduled to speak at a conference.

At first I was intrigued. She was the mother of six children ages 8 and under like me. Also like me, she homeschooled four of them and enjoyed blogging. However, her bio didn't stop there. It just kept going and going and going. Apparently her blog has like a gazillion followers or something. She owns a sucessful business and does these mega review gigs for big names like Graco and Dyson and....get this.... is one of the Wal-Mart Elevenmoms. I tried to go to the Wal-Mart Elevenmoms website to see what exactly that meant, but I couldn't quite figure it out. However, I am certain it something... REALLY... cool.

Oh...and to top it all off...she was much thinner than me.

I turned to my husband and said, "Look, Honey. This woman is me...but better."

I'm not about to link to her as I just know you'd stop reading my blog and read hers instead.

4 comments:

But I have to say, one thing I have realized when I feel inferior to people like that, I remember that every persons situation is different.

For example, do you remember me asking if your husband helps a lot? My husbands workload does not allow him to help as much. Oh, he is good at cleaning when he has not been overloaded at work, but I am the main one who leads the children, cleans the house, plans all meals, etc. See, I too was amazed at how you were handling all that you were. Then you told me how your hubby lays out clothes the night before co-op and makes their lunches. OK, so me being a little late each morning to co-op seemed a little more "OK" than when I thought, "How does she do it?" and you always looked so calm and together. And by the way, I saw another Duggar oldie. I noticed her say that when she had 5 it was much harder than the 16 she then had. Her hubby also said that she was not always so organized. It was after 4 kids that she started making changes. So, you know you are doing the best you can and you are doing great. That other lady may have her mother living next door. Or maybe she is like Julie H. from co-op who has the woderful situation of her mother HSing one day of the week and her MIL doing another day. All I can say is I have learned if I know I am giving it my all, I know no one else can come in and do anymore. So I realized that it is our different circumstances that help so of us accomplish more.

Can you tell I have felt inferior many times before? You are doing absolutely wonderful! I am so impressed with all that YOU do!

How did you know I was struggling with these very things?!?Do you KNOW how INSPIRING your simple platter with used candles is???I have put off the Advent side of things because I was overwhelmed by the preparation of it all....I LOVE decorating for Christmas and love for things to look just SO....but really....I LONG to simplify and focus on Christ this year...so thank you, thank you...this random bloggy moment was the wakeup call I needed...now off to gather random candles!!!

We don't look at the covers of magazines and think "Why don't I look like that supermodel?" but it is so easy to look at people who have it "together" and wonder why we're not just like them. I think Kim nailed it.

I love your Advent celebrations! Our candles aren't the right color either. But they're just right for us!

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About Me

I am a wife and homeschooling mother of ten children ages 15, 13, 12, 10, 9, 7, 5, 4, 2, and 1. I have found joy in sharing ideas and encouragement with other homeschool parents through speaking sessions, organizing parent meetings and educational events, creating ebooks and educational games, and writing posts and reviews online. While God has led me to teach my children at home, I am finding that He is teaching me even more. Truly God is going before me preparing my children's hearts and minds. There have been discouraging days and successful days on our homeschool journey, but the success has never been mine. It belongs solely to my children and the One who created them. I have been blessed and often humbled to be a part of it!